Machine synchronizing



Feb. 20, 1923. 1,446,436 F.STEVENS MACHINE SYNGHRONIZING SYSTEM.

Filed Sept. 50, 1.920 V 2 sheets-sheet 1 WITNESSES ATTORNEY Feb. 20,1923. 1,446,436 F. STEVENS MACHINE SYNCHRONIZING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 50, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 WQTNESSES! JEJ INVENTDR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES FRANK STEVENS, or PHILAIiELfHIA, PENNSYLVANIAf ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES R. KEEGAN, OF PHILApELPH I A-yPENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE SYNCHRONIZIN Gi :SY STEM. a

To all whom if may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRANK. STEVENS, .& citizen of the United States; residing, ,at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented :1. new and useful Machine Synchronizing System, of which the following iso 'specif i; cation. 1 v My invention relates to means for controlling, with mathematical precision,; .;speed relations between any driven and one or more other independentlyfdriven mn; chines intended to be operated in conjunction therewith; and its objectsare tq provigle means to automatically insure ahsolu-tely uniform and unvarying normoLspeed -relajr tions, to afford means to alter anynestab; lished automatic normal ratiogizvhile the several machines are in;goperation-wnd,setuip a new normal; to introduce .meansofigs uf; ficient sensitiveness and delicacy; ofconsbruc tion and operation ,topermit ofmeny "slight changes: of ratio; with "p sitiV Iy aOting means to indicate with great accuracy any automatic normalj ratio that may; ,be f-prevailing; and to afford other valuable helps in synchronizing twoior moreymachinesijof any character as .vv'-illmore$clealrlyqappear in the specification and-drawings; uii. v I have found that, inorderntmseotn'e'the requireddegree-of rnechzinical wsehsitiveii'ess to insure very slight but;extremelyqaccurate alterations of- "speed between ithe/ pmmary or standard machine and one\o1 more others. it is expedient tofestablishtheispeed varying mechanism at amointiu'hei'eitlre power 'beingJt-ransmittedis negligihle'iantl. consequently, the adjustment --mecl-ianisin while operating to control .i'c'lativelyfihigh powers and heav machinery nmjr bc smatl and delicate in construction; 1; w: I accomplish these results by-themo'mhination of mechanisms'and the construction hereinafter described. a. form. of Which-involving a phonograph-and a motion picture projector is shown by way of exa m'ple in the accompanying drawings. in, which- Figure 1 is a plan view of mv'invention attached to a phonograph so as tocontrol the speed of a moving picture projector: Figure 2 a front elevation of thc same with the commutator parts removed and'the phonograph proper omitted; Figure on end filtration of the same, viewed. from'the 'm n r e. r

rig ht'side 0i Figure l Figure 4, a plan view of tl eeleetric motor controlled by the rotationsbf the eonjinutator shotvn Figure 1 and showing speed geducing transmission to gthe projector a ricl Eigure 5, a face el "vation' ,ofjtlie commutator directly affected nljp ,z'ind ,directlj infiuencii 1g n glectin Similar 'in ices "relate to similar parts throughout 1 Theonmlg in foltM..i,the,d ir ng po iw he li iibg he ti ig. i i we sel-With ie'P'imPn-B the .m rt ttgG nnjie 1inog aphgflThe me n; eene xmvnd minim ename Qt r' wtZRL s 'sw l efsp flti p eti tq 1 9. meg tq pe rs fl wd ma sees; tehxisi iieim fiom i i t-i noonn 1310' Mr I 1-- -.1 new? s siie t h sse i n e; ge'ar; meme-en. i= -R nee-in e ur 9 M shaft 3; retamediiorizont'ally in the'bearin ien tfihatt 3. Provi ed i Eng-hymn: to i ei 'qe i te eiid its distance l n u ina ly reel l} .Th sdi is p |1.J...i f. .l.- v, need; i h an; P1? nifi; .wc d accurs te-rnt tipeen h ft e ehafi %i',, ie' ,w e

l1. MEWWMF s de-thon 99 1 ii xnn revolut on! The p r phe y f this-Mag .8 s=.n ;mt y; 'in' ms y n aet-r th he' We of cante n-d till, 0 .tmhlniswn dtmififies e-i 1L the r mniutator ht 'nshgqgrriege l i. llJiS sup- P ted-thy",thetst etl r aw wings 12 l -1 and ea riee egnbtat hle us holder 14 nto! wh chzemstfi ted elect i l-$91 brus es -.1 .-l6, 17 ll eda'i These brushes are resiliently mounted-5o es to press against and, mnke 9 good electrical contactvwith the $P i 9ls he qei a? s to lat a commutator 19, The facer-ie provided with two inlaid .-conce .ntrie. metallio rings; 20 and 21. Whichm're wiredtoa (source of electron'iot-ive forcethrough-agswitchN, V The brush 16: always-bears-upon ring20 and the brush lTnnpon ringJZL ;Brushes L5= and 18 bear, at: diametrically- ,opposite points upon the sectoral:'n'ietal licminla id contacts 22. whichnre equal anttsimilar and are symnietricallynrranged in thecircular zone lying'hetweenfiingQl and the circumference of the'commuta'tor fac'e. These contacts correspond tothe qumhersof: pol sn.- the elec- Lftq en i hle ajriction disc, 8.

tric motor P and are electrically connected therewith, c'bfi'secifltiVely, by the" system Of wiring weli kn'bn'h iI'i the'ait' a'n'd 6f which no detailed explanation is necessary to this specification, beyond the'statementthat it; issn-h us to muse the speediof rotzrtipn'of the t the meme 6f these iii' i ifs ce wtP harem 61 wits gimme 60 R. P. M.. by means of the chain drive connections S; over the l to sprorkets H a'n'd' T.

It is now evident that ury lzitrml motion along the shaft 3, of the disi- S mnsi :lL'L to instantly alter the speed of the hrnslns and either accelerate or retard iilt spa-ml of (he lflblZOI P and lfliojectur R. m'roriling lo lindirection offsuch lateral motion. 'E'inin pbftdht fe'atm to he" csnnprehcneied at this stage of the explanation is that the work done pr lead carried l'):\ the dim 10 is only that' whi h' is retinired tn \rh irl the tips of the Brushes in concentrir circles orer the fa'ce' ofthe commutator. and. as these tips ai s'iiliera'l rind the commutator surface verr liigh'lj: and sl noollhl finished there is ii-m ti'ceil'ly no friction and. as the emu-ea is quite small, the momentum is verv hifiifl'fi'. Sena-at the aeeuin lead is pegligilil. This commas, resulting fronl' the novel selection of a [flu-tar op'rzited by a removed ((lmlnl'b t'rt ti zi'iiti tli'e chtfiic'c' of this opportune point filie'fflotliing but si lficient power to actuate thi's't lfi lnii'i'ufii'w' e mech nism is ifwoved as th paitim'rlar location for the viii-inhlr speed control, 'oerr'nits of :1 d'elira'r-y and refine-- merit of colistrifict ihi'i utterly impossible o'i' o'i'leratiion where a' conqvarfitivel'i" heavy load is bei g carried.- smelt ower necessary to he transmitted the p'rilhhiy or driving irculnferenee of dis 8 which makes rolling contnlct with disc 1(l may be so narrow that its path of contart (weith'' face of the di sc'marv be fairly nrcw raftelv d'scrihd' as :1 rather hrond linear circlla rath'er than :13 :1 surface or plane. This i'S important where extreme n'tzc-nliu r is demanded. for a' very slight Variatiuu of the d iametrfll' ratio where these clnl'vhvs en g'age' causes 21' decided change in the driven speed.- Where disc 9' is two inches in (liar'nete'r and is engaged with dis: ell at pH- eisely one inch from the axis ul' llw latter. (-h'a'ng'e of one-tenth of 12:1 ii-i-h eith r \\'it will rmlnk-e :r :l'ifl'vrmn'v nl' n i n-uxiur-itelr P115 R. P. M. on :i nurnml spew-i f 1}! ll. P. M. It n't is'snril) ollows that tinhrfla'der the edge of disr the greater th" p'osihility of iuzl si-urzn' ul" rvsulls. lui' tin actual lfiuinf. o ('UHll'H'l' may in llwi'v HI less rontinlulllr vhumying or playing hurl: fmtli' fl lollg lhc lininl m nim-l mea ured transverselw :wrnss (he periphery u! 1li r 'Fhere'fhre. the liner it is pnsszilih lu lllzPlU this driving: edge. onsistent with Ilu- Nf'lH SR1)! drivingolficieury. the more rvrlnin will h tesdlts. For the same funilrurn'ntzil IPhSDD' till the members entering into the construction of my vari'ahle speed onh'ol ling mechanism may he so fine y foricw-l a to be capable of rcsriolu'ling lo extrenmh d'eliha'te manipulation. Consequently on)" vic is small-l andcom ia'ct and filte -ls elficient means fer making minute and gradual null To illustrate: with lmt the t changes, or for rapidly producing, very decided increases or decreases in the speed of the brushes, as will appear from the followin; description,

Immediately beneath the shaft 3 positioned a bed or table 27, having horizontal guideways 28,'in which a traveling stock 29 is accurately fitted, as'in a lathe, to be reciprocated by the rotation of a centrally disposed screw-threadedshaft; This stock is provided with two vertically Eextending arms,-3O and 31, which have central'bearings to permit of the smooth rotation therein of the shaft 3, and between these two arms is accurately positioned the long huh- 9 of disc 8, so that there sliallbe no playlor motion and that any reciprocation of jthe stock along the guideways 28,'Innst 'caus'e precisely equivalent sidewisefmovementsfif this disc. Longitudinally the of this stock is, drilled and fine'tap ed a long threaded bearing throui'lfwhi 5;: tends the adjustment ioi"'i'egulatin'g"sha'ft 0'! rod 32, correspondingly threaded; 32-',-foi" n distance suilicient' 'td' cause, 'when' "iotalteil, ample reciprocation of the "stool 29 tb d'each any position desired. I The shaft32is supported in bearings 33 and'34 in the table '27 and in a third bearing; 35 near "diitefr eic tremity, which end is provided'iwith a knurled .operziti'ngjhe'ad, 36, for 'us'ewh en gradual and minute adjustment ionlxis i' quired- Adjacent tlie bearin "35 'i's aipln' ion, 37, fast to the shaft 32 an suitably sup ported in a standard, 38, sblas to be rotatably engaged with thispinion, the gear 39, several times larger, to impart rapid tation to the shaft 32 wheii'a rapid speed change is demande To operate this gearing a cranking handle, attached to the outer faceof the gear whel39. To properly inform gulde'thefopera tor in manipulatingthesecontrols, an m'dicator must he provided afidlit be imcurate and reliable ma very precise 'de ree'. To insure absolute precision tdthereadings on the scale 26 it is .essential to take" rewrtions to avoid any hack lash or-dtl'lel' of lost motion and. consequently, gear transmission is not desirable. I: ave' shown a lever operated formconsistingof a link-41, pivoted to the bottom of the stock 29 at a. central point vertically beneath thedisc '8. so as to be midway between the ideways 28. The other end of this link is Jointed to an indicator member in the form of an. elbow-lever, 42, pivoted atits' angle',43, to,the bed of the framework G of the phonograph, and having its indicator arm 25 in the form of an arrow or pointer. Thus, as the travcling stock 29 is advanced or withdrawn by the rotation of shaft 32, the point of the arrow describes a horizontal are which is properly calibrated and provided with a graduate scale.

In order to afford a ready means for uncouplin the discs 8 and 10, the shaft 11 is hollow or'a 'suflicient distance to receive and permit of reciprocation a slidable spindle, 44, splined therein, and which may be con sidered an integral part of the disc 10. A helical spring, 59, of 'appropriate'power is interposed between'the bottom of the hollow tubular ortion of shaft 11 and the encased end of t e spindle 44; whereby the disc 10 is u'rged and normally held with due pressure in good working contact with the periphery'of drive disc 8. The hub of the disc IOhas an'lanmilar groove or channel, 46, to eng'age'rollers 47 mounted atthe tip ends, respectively-of the bifurcated vertical arm, 48, "of an felbow lever, fulcrumed' 'at 49; 'to the 'be'd =of the frame, The horizontal arm 50" of"this'elbow-'lever has at its extremity a. roller, 51, which projects over the upper surface'bf a rod "52, sl1dable' longitudinally through-the'guide 53, andthe standard 38. This rod 52 extendsto' a point convenient tdthe other'con'tro'l members,f36 and 40, so that these"kindred' parts may beclosely grouped, 'an'df=terminates' in-"-a vertically extending handle-'54; -The'space between circmriferencejif the roller 51' and, the-flat top and a. rest space-atthe'proper'elvatiQn; are

fo'r'med on the upper and contacting"surface ofrod 52, immediately adjacent to the roller 51, to 'act in el'eviiting 'thearni'50 iind' -holcling'it'up, iwhe'a the'rod'is pushed inwardly. This'actionresults in the drawing away and keeping thedi'sc' 10 out ofc'ontact with disc 8: arid. of course; a'pull ofn"the; -h andle"54, immediately this contact through the reaction of the spring 59. i "The sgswubmml for the phonoginplr itselfis re \latediby the conventional swivelcd friction rake'H acting on the governordisc I. This brake His pivoted to the bed of the machine, a longitudinally slidable rod 55 linking it to m 'operating and indicating lever 56, also pivoted to the bed and provided with a convenient operating'lmohj 57 con nected with a binding s'crew'andclamp operating withinthe clamping channel 58. as is well known. Bytliis means, with pointer end of lever 56 andthe scale 59 any desired 1 normal speed for the" phonograph may he established. i

It is to be understood that the speeds herein recited'ar'e merely illustrative. Those relating to the phonograph and the projector are, as IDBTIlAO'IlGd, simply conventional. Other machines'which may be coupled in a similar manner as these herein used to explain my invention for synchronizing, would no doubt be operated 'atmanf'diflerent ratios, depending entirely on the character of the respective functions tohbe harmonized and kept in harmony. But the principles involved and the operation would be similar in ever instanee, Likewise, the rate at which the electric motor BjS censed to rpm in this illustration is optiomil. It is aqspeecl which I have continuously. einployedpyithj good results and is an=exzrct mnltiple,of.,the respect ire rates at" which my; two, principal mechanisms normally operate Bugsit; is very evident that the'gears 1 and, -2,n'1ight he of different diameters respectiwely,end the sprocket wheels S and T.might ha. veia ratio dilferent from the one -herein-psed, without in any mannerv alteringthatope i'ation', or depztrtingfrom. the-.mrtin' nesults bo be attained, viz, toe'stablishat will any-rela- Live speeds and tomainta'irr-perfecticontrol thereof. v -alln'g For the purpose of illustrating mydnvention' andits application. lqh'evershown and described on'e-formtherebf elthough' is; to he understood that the various-.instrumem tztlitie's of which my invention-. consistspen be variously arranged and y orgenized and that inyinvention is not to 'belnnited. the

, precise arrangement andorganization lierein shown and described; zmd thetlr hereby; serve the right to yea-organize ,and rearrange these instrument-:flities within the scope of my claims. ma .,.,;j I- am. aware that systems for synchronizing involving the useof..variable,-s eed gears and clutch'es have been inxente angd pat; ented andare notlnovel andldq nqt claim such afsystem bnoadly,- 'b nt claim; m

1. In e synchroniz' temzoi th e char acter described, in com ina1ri0n-- -ith;.a, piecp of maehin cry and-its motivepower, angelec tric moton, a detached commutator-therefor; in t er-med i a be driving comrections between said piece of nmchinery andsztid eo nmututor, and means in saiddriving! connections to alter the speed of said commutator with: out a fleeting the speed of said piece. of machinery. v n 2. In a synchronizing systcmioff the char actcr described. in combination with cpieee of machincr and its motivepowcr, elec; tricmotor, a detached commutator therefor, intermediatedriving connections between said piece of machinery and said comnnttator, means in said driving: coimectioiisto vary the speed of said commutatorwithout; va rying the speed of saidpiece ofmachinery, means to indicate the degree of such vari a: tious of speed, and means to disconnect sai driving connections from saide coinmutato n 3. In a synchronizing systemof the character described, in combination with a detached commutator for an electric motor, a rotatable brush holder, a friction disc to rotate said holder, another friction disc engaged therewith, means to rotate said letter rec s withpetsh lter an sid of dm hi e 5 sypchronizingsystem of thecharecter d,, m g:ornbinetibn, an electric Knobs, d'etaphed co1nrn\1ti1tor "therefor, a rnachinennelnding qiotor. therefor, yariable sgeedrnechen sin;so,,coi1nected. with said ma- ?ane ogmmntatonas, to rotate the tie lie we i 1 mi n-lei st n f flit q iibinnt ionr'itli a d etehed dammitter te: an electric motpi' nieaigs to the'lspeed of Solid (mnr'nntatorcompnsipg e rotatable lirush holder, fri tioraatslisq to lsa'idz' holder, :inlothcr :ricti'on ei'ip r' engaged wit-i the oisgtid means to; rotate said ilettejr, Idis'e', do i-fotetahle Hana; sh:-..ft. ineans .tq slowly ,rotate some, alternate iean 'tqg i l" lifOfl'iQliBlflIiG-Sfllhd, nieans to mdicste thege qcto ;any rotation of said shzrit m a s; actuated by the initiation of ssid t0 laterally reciprocate said latter d1sc,,and meens to disengage said; discs and meme-es, a hit p a 58 1 sync ronizing system of thr charnct r combination with a dctac ied cdiim ii ta itor for aii electric motor meansmvnyme speed of said commutator comprising a rotatable brnslrholder, a friction ,disc, e resiliently telescopic shaft to transmit .rotation; from Said disc to said holder, a slotted shaft another friction dis-3 splined thereon and peripherally engaged with the face of said former disc, a threaded shaft parallel to said slotted shaft, a reciprocatory member engaged by said threaded shaft and axially engaging said latter disc, a handle to slowly rotate said threaded shaft, a small gear wheel on said threaded shaft, a considerably larger gear wheel engaged therewith, a handle to rotate said large ear wheel, an annularly slotted hub to said former disc, a lever engaging said hub whereby said former disc may be reciprocated along its axis, a hand rod to operate said lever, a speed rate indicator for said commutator, levers actuated by the motion of said reciprocatory member to operate said indicator,.and means to indicate the uniform speed of said splined disc.

9. A synchronizing system of the character described in combination with a phonograph and a motion picture machine comprising, "an electric motor to operate said machine, a detached commutator therefor, variable speed mechanism so connected with a rotatable member of said phonograph and with said commutator as to transmit rotation to said commutator, hand operated means to control said variable speed mechanism whereby the. speed of said commutator may be changed without changing the speed of said phonograph, means to indi cate the degree of any such change, and means to disconnect said variable speed mechanism from said commutator.

Signed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this seventh day of September, A D. 1920.

FRANK STEVENS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT S. WRAY, L. J. KEEGAN. 

